The Wilmingtonian., 1887-02-19
The Sewerage Question.

nance as presented in Council last week by
George Waring Jr., of Newport R. l., James
Il. Wilson and Walter Cummins Esq, of
this city can be looked upon as naught else
than an unmitigated evil aud clearly de-
manding popular condemnation.
What right has any private corporation to
place mandatory demands upon private cti-
zens imperiously ordering them to make ex
penditures which they would under no con-
sideration attempt to make of themselves.
This "stand and deliver" style of running
public matters is entirely out Of place. When
private associations have made their proposi-
tions it is then the turn of the people to
make their statement upon the question. In
lie opinion there seems to be an exceedingly
vigorous objection to the private sewer ordi-
nance referred to. Thousands of our most
industrious and frugal fellow citizens have
commenced building up and locating homes
Of their own upon the outskirts of the city
in such places as they discover suitable to
their limited means. Many of them have in-
stituted the plan of esta ablishing homo for
themselves by seeking aid from Loan Asso-
Citations. By this plan inclusive of the idea
of paying heavy premiums to the end that
therlooked for moment when the property
shall be freehold lot vested in themselves
may the sooner draw nigh, they accepted self
imposed annual payments to the very verge
of carrying power. They cannot therefore
afford to pay the extremely high tax which
this sewer ordinance calls for. 1t appears
that the proposition is to make each proper
ty holder pay certain sum re present
ing cost of laying sewer to private house,
making connections with main sewer &C.,
and also paying an excessive yearly tax to
The Sewerage Company. Now this s simply
outrageous 1t has been stated that the
average initiatory payment under the sewer
age company's arrangements will average
500 all around throughout Wilmington.
Supposing there to be 10000 houses in tho
city limits to which sewerage connection be
made there will be direct outlay of a
s1000,0 900 for our people to face
And then In addition we may
look at other admirable points in tho pros
rectus Of the company. They ask for an ex-
ceedingly moderate term of years for their
monopoly, namely thirty 1t cannot be said
chat they are anyway backward or modest
in asking for benefits In addition to the
nitatory payment on account of making
connection each householder must pay an
uually at least $s, and how much more there
IS no way OF discovering.
Additionally in regard to the intention OF
sewering the city there is no call for the
undertaking at the present moment of
Wlmington's Typographical and population
status. The city's peculiar situation affords
| all bilB Httutu Ny phNslCdl
conformation. The larges area Of watershed
is towards the ChrisGiana river, and this
also by most direct and continuous pass
age. A few hours steady rainfall accom-
plishes more in Wilmington IN the direction
of cleansing and carrying off hurtful and de-
caying surface matter than the most COM
plete system of sub.arterial sewerage could
guarantee. Also the question of soakage Ut
earth saturation from private Teceptacles is
undoubtedly greatly exaggerated by those
!, anxious to see a sewerage system established
here In receptacles that have stood fol-
, over half a century in this city il has been
, shown that the saturation is not defined OF
! dscoverable twelve feet from the earth's
: surface, 1t may be fairly claimed that ths
: undertaking Of ramifying the whole city
with comprehensive sewerage system IL
one not called for by present emergency, snG
, beyond that it is a tax OF expense entirely
: beyond tue pockets of the citizen or house
holder in Wilmington. Additionally il
D must be remembered that the most perfect
= and modern system of pipe sewerage is al
D ways open to the condemnation Of being
/ system most remarkably prolific in the gen
/ Grafton Of noxious gases and, on account o
D the nature OF the work most unfortunatel,
= successful dsseminator Of carbonic ant
other foul gases along its pipes into dwollinI
d houses. The capability to prevent this trou
/ BILE is problem which the promoters AM
|. endorsers Of the system of pipe sewersg
'e have not met. The final argument is tina
IS our city has not yet arrived at that point q
u density Of population within any given are
when the system proposed by Mr.. WARM
'f becomes incumbent for adoption. That nc
is ment, according to many competent suthOr
ID ties is not within the view of tbs prsssu
" generation at least.
e - s-------
b. A CrematOry on Wheels.
l. was exceedingly fortunate for the pat
anrars nj, Tim rInepittn oar of tba trai, on kt